The next few hours were the hardest of Asuka's life. She packed just what she and Yakul could carry, which was a change of clothes and a little food. Her father told her goodbye with little emotion, sending her away from the only place she had ever known. Ibaba had given her directions to the Forest Spirit's home; she just had to remember them. At the top of the hill overlooking her home, she turned and looked back one more time, unable to smile for the darkness that settled over her heart. A small figure raced up the hill, face covered in veils. Asuka squinted to see who it was.
"Tahiro, what are you doing?" she hissed, throwing the veils off the boy's face. He was out of breath, panting from the run. Tahiro was her best friend, had been since they were both just infants. Rumors around the village said that Tahiro was the King's illegitimate son, but even if that was true, he would never inherit the throne. He was the closest thing to a brother Asuka had.
"I wanted to give you this," he said, brows furrowed deep. He held out his hands, uncovering a small package. It was a bright blue dagger, shining in the light.
"How did you get this?" Asuka asked, stunned.
"My mother found it while she was cleaning the castle. Your father told her to get rid of it, but I took it from her. I knew it rightfully belonged to you." He was right. It had belonged to Asuka's now deceased mother. Asuka put the dagger around her neck, hugging Tahiro tightly. He nodded his head, taking off back towards the village.
Asuka took a deep breath. She mounted Yakul and nudged him into a run. The faster she got away, the easier it would be. They ran until they reached the next village, where they stopped and cooked some food and then moved on. Asuka kept her face covered, eyes down. People looked at her funny, the way she hid and limped. At the next village, there was a battle happening. Asuka raced past, feeling her leg pulse with pain. It wanted to fight. The anger under her skin was building up, trying to release itself. Asuka roared in pain, bringing Yakul to a stop. She got off, walking around in circles. Jerking her pants up, she rubbed the purple pulsing skin. The sounds of the battle drew nearer, and Asuka was glued to the ground, unable to move. Soldiers came around the corner, swords at the ready.
The next few minutes went by in a blur. Asuka found herself lost to the anger and pain in her leg. It seemed to make her move at an inhuman speed, powering the rest of her body. She had never been very good at hand to hand combat, but the curse powered her forward. When it was over, she stood panting in front of two destroyed human bodies. Limbs ripped from bodies, faces mutilated. Asuka mounted Yakul and ran, fighting tears.
"Tahiro, what are you doing?" she hissed, throwing the veils off the boy's face. He was out of breath, panting from the run. Tahiro was her best friend, had been since they were both just infants. Rumors around the village said that Tahiro was the King's illegitimate son, but even if that was true, he would never inherit the throne. He was the closest thing to a brother Asuka had.
"I wanted to give you this," he said, brows furrowed deep. He held out his hands, uncovering a small package. It was a bright blue dagger, shining in the light.
"How did you get this?" Asuka asked, stunned.
"My mother found it while she was cleaning the castle. Your father told her to get rid of it, but I took it from her. I knew it rightfully belonged to you." He was right. It had belonged to Asuka's now deceased mother. Asuka put the dagger around her neck, hugging Tahiro tightly. He nodded his head, taking off back towards the village.
Asuka took a deep breath. She mounted Yakul and nudged him into a run. The faster she got away, the easier it would be. They ran until they reached the next village, where they stopped and cooked some food and then moved on. Asuka kept her face covered, eyes down. People looked at her funny, the way she hid and limped. At the next village, there was a battle happening. Asuka raced past, feeling her leg pulse with pain. It wanted to fight. The anger under her skin was building up, trying to release itself. Asuka roared in pain, bringing Yakul to a stop. She got off, walking around in circles. Jerking her pants up, she rubbed the purple pulsing skin. The sounds of the battle drew nearer, and Asuka was glued to the ground, unable to move. Soldiers came around the corner, swords at the ready.
The next few minutes went by in a blur. Asuka found herself lost to the anger and pain in her leg. It seemed to make her move at an inhuman speed, powering the rest of her body. She had never been very good at hand to hand combat, but the curse powered her forward. When it was over, she stood panting in front of two destroyed human bodies. Limbs ripped from bodies, faces mutilated. Asuka mounted Yakul and ran, fighting tears.